[Buddha-l] Lamas and such

[Richard Hayes]

On Dec 6, 2009, at 2:18 AM, Erik Hoogcarspel wrote:

> About the use and meaning of the word xiao I have different data. On
> CCTV there is a daily course in Mandarin Chinese and there is an  
> online
> course in Chinese called Chinese Pod. Both teachers of these courses
> insist that the word xiao is used by a person of higher position to a
> subordinate one and has an undertone of affection.

I very much admire the custom of Dutch Buddhists of referring to the  
vehicles of Buddhism as het voertuig and het voertuigtje, or de weg  
and het wegtje. When you see a follower of het wegtje, you just want  
to pinch his cute little cheeks, just as when you seen a follower of  
the little vehicle.

Richard